I think there are several other plants that can cause allergic reactions-lilies, ginko, chrysanthemums, daturas or angel trumpets, I'm sure there are others. I've never had any reactions to any of these, but am very allergic to poison ivy. I remember when I was researching poison ivy there were a lot of plants listed that I would never have thought of-chrysanthemums for ex which includes shasta daisy. If I remember, people that are allergic to lilies are probably also allergic to other bulbs like garlic, onions, daffs etc. I hope you find out the cause.

Another possibility...I've had problems with junipers that way. Use hydrocortisone cream.

Just for safety's sake, wash your gloves regularly. But I don't understand if you are always wear gloves how you get a contact reaction. (a) you should get to a dermatologist while you have the irritation, and you'll get some medicine that will keep it from progressing to the broken skin stage. This is important if you are gardening, cause tho we love soil, getting it in compromised skin is not good=infection. (b) You also should get it diagnosed asap, because reactions like these tend to get worse with repeated exposure. (c) Since you are wearing gloves, unless the gloves are the culprits, you might suspect something besides plants that you come in contact with periodically: special soap, handcreams, hand washing clothes in a different detergent, some other household product. There's really no way of diagnosing this without "ruling out" allergens one by one. Pay attention to what you do in the garden, and if you get the irritation, try to think back to anything different you did in the last 24 hours. Most contact dermatitis, if that's what it is, shows up in that interval, if not a lot sooner. I'll strongly suggest, again, that you get to the dermatologist at the first sign of the next reaction.

What material are your gloves made of?

I love the Atlas gloves, which are a combination of some breathable rubbery fabric and actual fabric. I don't know exactly what materials those would be. You can get your hands wet wearing these because of this combination, but they are very comfortable. I suppose I should begin looking for a different type of glove. I really think I get exposed to the irritating substance when I peel off the gloves after touching whatever it is. I should keep some soap handy outside for immediately washing my hands. Thanks for all those theories about what plants could be causing this reaction. Idabean, the irritation often doesn't go beyond the raised welt stage to an actual broken skin or rash. I'm very doubtful that a dermatologist would have enough "evidence" to make a diagnosis and would only be able to prescribe an anti-itch medication. I've been able to treat it with baking soda + vinegar and/or hot & cold water applications. It's just the first 2-3 days that are maddeningly itchy. It's usually gone after that.

Are you using something for the itching? I am often itchy after gardening. Once I used an over the counter cream and broke out in welts that blistered (sounds just like yours) all over my hands. It turned out I was alergic to the cream.

I get vicious CD from plain old English Ivy, and I've just developed the allergy in the past few years. When I first moved here, the place was covered with it, and I pulled huge amounts, with no gloves and no reaction. All of a sudden, after 5 years of beating it back, it started giving me horrible itchy, red spreading rashes. I had to get cortisone shots a few times, and used cortisone cream on it as well. Now, the Ivy is almost gone, and when I work with it, I wear gauntlet gloves and long-sleeved shirts, and I wash the outside of the gloves in bleach and soap before removing them.

Ah ha! Is English ivy that kind with small leaves that creeps all over the grass if given a chance? I do have that stuff in several areas and haven't given it a 2nd thought before pulling it. I wonder if that's it! I do have cortisone cream but it doesn't usually help with the itching. I can't really describe this reaction very well, but it's a "hot", almost painful itch and the white welts spread from the initial red dot to a much larger area before it subsides. Seldom makes a rash or blisters, though.

Could it be the gloves have Latex? lots of people have an allergy to Latex.
You would think if it was something you were brushing up against in the garden the problem would be elsewhere on your body too!?

Sumac makes my skin burn, some are allergic to virginia creeper, juniper has been mentioned. I also get burning welts from hops vine.

Two common plants that can cause dermatitis, for different reasons:

Bindweed, that morning-glory type vine with white blossoms, contains small amounts of urushiol, the same chemical as in poison ivy. I can't pull the stuff up without breaking out.

Euphorbias such as robii and chameleon have that white sticky sap, which many folks find to be a major skin irritant. Again, gloves won't help me if I handle that stuff.

How are you pulling your gloves off? You may be inadvertently getting contaminants from the outside onto the inner surface of your gloves if they get inverted while you're taking them off.

Hope it gets better!

LynnT

The ivy may be your issue. I planted some for the first time ever this year and I had a terrible rash on one of my hands. Exactly like what you described. Hot, angry welts that itch and was very painful. I washed my hands faithfully with anti bacterial soap and used hydrocortisone cream which really helped.

I don't wear gloves. Maybe I should but they seem like a hindrance to me. At any rate I hope you are able to identify the culptit if your rash is anything like mine. It took ages to get rid of.

Kate

Are you pulling a lot of weeds? Maybe you have stinging nettle. Or maybe it's the gloves, and not any particular plant. I'm not sure how a plant can affect your hands when they're covered by the gloves. Change glove brands and see if it still happens.

The ivy don was talking about, I'm guessing, is different from what you were describing. I think you are referring to creeping charlie, and don is talking about english ivy. could be wrong, just thought I'd point this out.

There is a thread on this forum.
"plants that cause a rash"
This may help also.

My problem is one of the miscanthus grass. (thin leaf grass)
When I come in contact with this one variety it causes me to itch. None of the others do I have a reaction to.

I also use disposible gloves when I light garden or dead head. If you are allergic to latex then try one of the others that are non allergic. If I am gardening long or heavy duty work I switch to a breathable material.

I think you're allergic to the latex in the gloves. I have a latex allergy too but mine isn't as bad. You should stop wearing the gloves immediately as it only gets worse. There is a simple test a doctor can do to diagnose it. Look for gloves made of nitrile instead of latex.